Photograph courtesy of the Winona County Historical Society
This was the original Gene Gabrych Park, and we guess it was pretty stunning
from this photograph. Built in 1947, these covered wooden grandstands once surrounded
homeplate while uncovered bleachers stretched down the lines after 1st
and 3rd base. The ballpark was home to the Winona Chiefs... a local semi-pro team
that was beloved by the fans. Local Minnesota "town ball" thrived here as it
did in many of the great little wooden ballparks (many of which are still alive
today), that dotted these lands of many lakes.